Container.



H. O. ELKINS.

CONTAINER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 26, 1914.

Patented June 29, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

l/VVE/VTOR ATRNEYS WITNESSES: 16. $42M C D N m 5 m H n w a m m C H F O C 5 R E T E F m R R O N E H T 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2v Patented June 29, 1915.

WITNESSES.

A TTOR/VEKS THE NORRIS PETERS 60., PHOTOYLITHOY, WASHING TON D c.

HENRY 0. ELKINS, OF BATH, NEW YORK.

CONTAINER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 29, 1915.

Application filed March 26, 1914. Serial No. 827,259.

- Bath, in the county of Steuben and State of New York,.have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Containers, of which the following is a full, clear, and eX- act description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to containers, and with respect to certain more specific features thereof, to containers of a collapsible character.

This invention has for one of its objects the provision of a comparatively light and eminently durable device of the character above referred to.

It is another object of this invention to provide a container which may be collapsed or set up with ease and rapidity.

It is another object of the invention to provide a container of simple and inexpensive construction.

Still another object of the invention lies in the construction of a frame container having substantially the strength and thrust-resisting attributes of a solid or wall container. 1

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in which is shown one of various possible embodiments of the invention,- Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a container; Fig. 2 is a front elevation, partly broken away, of the container shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 33, Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view of the container shown in Fig. 1, as it appears when substantially erected; Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view of the container shown in Fig. 1, showing the same in the process of erection; Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view of the container shown in Fig. 1 as it appears when collapsed; and Fig. 7 is a development of the flexible covering.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, there is indicated at 1 a base frame preferably of skeleton construction, the same being also preferably rectangular in shape and comprising longitudinal rails 2 and 3 and end transverse rails 3' and 4. Suitable connections are provided at the junctures of the rails 2, 3, 3 and 4 to secure the same respectively in fixed relation.

At 5 and 6 there are shown supplemental transverse rails which extend between, and are fixed to the longitudinal rails 2 and 3, serving for one purpose to strengthen the base frame 1 and for another purpose to limit the movement of certain parts of the collapsible structure hereinafter described.

A body frame portion of the container, involving a plurality of pairs of oppositely disposed side frames also preferably of skeleton construction, is indicated at 7and comprises a plurality of upright rails (preferably siX in number) 8, 9, 1O, 11, 12 and 13. The corner upright rails of the body frame designated at 8, 9, 10 and 11 are pivotally mounted preferably on the longitudinal rails of the base frame, and the uprights 12 and 13 are similarly mounted at or near the central portion of the longitudinal rails 2 and 3, respectively. In addition to the upright rail members before mentioned, the body frame comprises upper longitudinal rails 14 and 15 and upper transverse members or rails, 16 and 17 all associated with said upright rails. The longitudinal rail 15 is pivotally associated with the upright rails 9, 10 and 13 and the transverse rails 16 and 17. The transverse rails 16 and 17 extend between the upper ends of the up rights 10 and 11, and 8 and 9, respectively, and are pivotally associated with said uprights to permit relative movement therebetween. The longitudinal rail 14 extends between the uprights 8 and 11 at the front of the container and is preferably in fixed relation therewith. The central upright 12 is connected at its upper end with the longitudinal rail 14 as is the upper end of the rear central upright 13 with the longitudinal rail 15. Supplementary side frames also of skeleton construction are indicated at 18 and 19, and each of said frames comprises upright rails 20 pivotally associated with the transverse rails 3 and 4, respectively. The transverse rail 21 connects the upper ends of the uprights 20 of each frame.

A cover frame of skeleton construction is indicated at 22, comprising transverse members 23, 24 and 25 and a longitudinal uprights 8 and 11 rail 26 connected thereto. The rear. ends of the'transverse frame members 23, 24 and 25 are, respectively, fixedly associated with the longitudinal rail 15, which acts as a rock shaft for said cover frame, and the latter is accordingly adapted to swing or pivot about the pivot points of the longitudinal rail 15 in the uprights 9, 10 and 13.

The frames 18 and 1.9, which have a pivotal movement on the end transverse rails 3 and 4 of the base frame, are adapted to be secured in place against the body frame by means of the cover frame, the transverse members 23 and 25 of said cover frame closing in position to hold the transverse rails 21 of the frames 18 and 19, respectively, against the rails 16 and 17 of the body frame. It will be seen, therefore, that when the container is set up, the side frames 18 and 19 having been moved into their upright positions against the transverse members 16 and 17, the members 23 and 25 of thecover serve to prevent said side frames from retreating into collapsed position. Diagonal struts 27 extend between the corner at the upper ends thereof, to a. position on the body frame 7 adjacent the lower end of the upright 12, serving to strengthen the frame and to guide the side frames 18 and 19 in their movement from collapsed to erect position, and vice ve'rsa. Similar diagonal struts are provided at the rear of the body frame, as indicated at 28, for a similar purpose. Locking means are provided on the cover frame and on the body frame, as indicated at 45, adapted to coact to secure the cover frame in substantially fixed relation with the body frame, thereby retaining the supplementary side frames between the cover frame and the body frame.

If desired, for the purpose of giving added substance to the container, detachable top and bottom pieces or linings 30 and 31 may be introduced into the container and secured temporarily in position by means of spring clips, as indicated at 32. These detachable members preferably comprise a light frame 33 and a rattan weave 34 associated therewith.

This device perhaps finds one of its most important applications in its use in mail cars or the like, as, for example, for the purpose of carrying packages under the parcels post regulations. Of course packages sent under such conditions vary greatly in size and shape, and Where a frame construction is used for a container it is desirable to use, ering of some light and flexible material, as indicated in the development shown by Fig. 7 of the drawings. This covering 35 com prises a body portion 36, end flaps 37 and 38, and wings 39 and 40. The end of the flap 37 of the covering is adapted to enin connection therewith, a covcompass the longitudinal rail 14 at the front of the body frame 7, and to be removably secured thereto by suitable fastening means, as indicated at 41.' The covering then extends peripherally of the container, passing about the longitudinal rails 2, 3 and 15, bringing the flap portion 38 into a position to encompass the longitudinal rail 26, about which it may be fastened by suitable fastening means, indicated at 43. The covering is of such form and arrangement as to bring the wing portions 39 and 40 thereof into position opposite the frame members 18 and 19, and fastening means are provided, as indicated at 44, whereby these wing portions 39 and 40 may be secured, respectively, to the frames 18 and 19 about'the uprights 20 of said frames.

Mechanism is indicated at adapted to lock the cover frame to the bodylframe 7 of the container. This mechanism preferably comprises a U-shaped member or staple 48 projecting forwardly from the upright 12 of the body frame, and a frame 49 pivoted at 50 to the longitudinal rail 22 and slotted, as indicated at 51, to receive the loop 52 of the staple through which a bolt may be passed in the usual well-known manner.

Assuming that the container is in the collapsed position shown by Fig. 6 of the drawings, and it is desired to erect the same, the body frame 7 is pivotally moved about longitudinal rails 2 and 3 of the base frame until the various uprights comprising the body frame are brought into positions at right angles to the base frame. At this time the side frames 18 and 19 are lying in a plane substantially parallel to the base, and they are now moved out of this plane pivotally around the transverse rails 3 and 4 until they also are brought into positions at.

right angles to the base frame. noted that in moving theframes 18 and 19 from their collapsed positions to their upright positions the diagonal struts 27 and 28 It will be serve as guides for said frames during this movement, and thereby also prevent the body frame 7 from returning to its original collapsed position. The side frames 18 and 19 having been moved into their upright position,- thecover frame 22 is swungfrom its open position,indicated by Fig. 4 of the drawings, into the closed position shown in Fig. "1 of the drawings. The container frame'is now set up, and it will be noted that the transverse rails 21 of the frames 18 and 19 are securely held between the transverse rails 16'a'nd 23 and 17' and 25, respectively. The various frame members, when set up asdescribed by the foregoing, present arigid container. 19 substantiallyresist the lateral strains on said container, and the struts 27 and 28 and the various longitudinal rails substantially resist longitudinal thrust. Covering 35 is then passed peripherally around the container and fastened in the manner which has been previously described in detail. Apertures are provided in said covering, as indicated at 53 and 54 for the purpose of allowing the elements of the locking mechanism to project through the said covering in order that the locking may take place on the outer side thereof. In collapsing the container, the various steps in erecting the same are reversed, and when collapsed, the cover portion, the body frame and the base lie all substantially in the same plane, it being, of course, understood that if desired the rattan walls may be removed in order to secure amore complete collapsed condition.

From the foregoing, it will be obvious that a device is provided which accomplishes, among others, all the objects and advantages set forth, and one which obtains substantially a maximum of strength and durability with a minimum of weight.

As many changes could be made in the above construction and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the language used in the following claims is intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described and all statements of the scope of the invention, which, as a matter of language, might be said to falltherebetween.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a collapsible container, a base portion, a body frame comprising corner uprights and longitudinal transverse rails connected with said uprights at their upper portions to provide a permanently continuous periphery, movable side portions adapted to be moved from positions substantially parallel with said base portion into upright positions to cooperate with opposite sides of said body frame, a movable cover portion comprising means adapted to secure a movable side portion in said cooperative positions, and means adapted to prevent said body frame from collapsing while a side portion is being moved into said upright position.

2. In a collapsible container, in combination, an open base frame, an open body frame comprising four side frame portions pivotally associated with said base frame and movable from a collapsed position sub stantially, parallel with the base plane into an upright position, a cover portion associated with the body frame, side portions movable independently of the movement of said body frame into and out of upright and collapsed positions, and a flexible covering associated with the aforesaid parts in a manner permitting the container to be collapsed and erected Without removing the covering.

3. In a collapsible container, in combination, an open base frame, an open body frame associated with said base frame and movable from a collapsed position substantially parallel with the base plane into an upright position, a cover portion associated with the body frame, side portions movable independently of said body frame into and out of upright and collapsed positions, a flexible covering associated with the aforesaid parts in a manner permitting the container to be collapsed and erected without removing the covering, and a detachable lining member adapted to be cooperatively associated with said base frame.

4. In a collapsible container, in combination, an open base frame, an open body frame associated with said base frame and movable from a collapsed position substantially parallel with the base plane into an upright position, a cover portion associated with the body frame, side portions movable independently of said body frame into and out of upright and collapsed positions, a flexible covering associated with the aforesaid parts in a manner permitting the con tainer to be collapsed and erected without removing the covering, and a detachable lining member adapted to be cooperatively associated with said cover frame.

5. A collapsible container comprising, in combination, a body frame, a base and cover having pivotally connected members whereby the entire container may be collapsed from an upright position into a position substantially in the plane of the base thereof, and a flexible covering removably attached to said body frame and said cover frame and extending around the container, thereby permitting collapse and erection of the container at will without removing said covering.

6. In a container, in combination, a base portion, a movable body frame pivotally mounted relative to said base portion, a cover portion pivotally mounted relative to said body frame, a flexible covering removably secured to said container comprising a flap portion removably secured to the forward side of said body frame, a body strip extending peripherally of said container and another flap portion removably secured to said cover portion, and means adapted to secure the free end of said cover portion to said body frame, said means comprising an interlock passing through the said flap portions and securing the same against removal.

7. A folding container comprising, in comblnatlon, a base frame, a palr of oppositely disposed side frames pivotally connected to said base and thereby movable to- Ward and from the plane thereof, members connecting said side frames and pivotally connected thereto, supplementary side frames pivotally connected to said base and respectively movable toward and from said connecting members and the plane of said base, and a cover frame pivotally connected to swing toward and from the plane of said base.

8. A folding container comprising, in combination, a base frame, a pair of oppositely disposed side frames pivotally connected to said base and thereby movable toward and from the plane thereof, members connecting said side frames and pivotally connected thereto, supplementary side frames pivotally connected to said base and respectively movable toward and from said connecting members and the plane of said base, and a cover frame pivotally connected to swing toward and from the plane of said base and adapted to be disposed between said supplementary frames when the latter are in upright position.

9. A folding container comprising, in combination, a base frame, a pair of oppositely disposed side frames pivotally connected to said base and thereby movable toward and from the plane thereof, members connecting said side frames-and pivotally connected thereto, supplementary side frames pivotally connected to said base and respectively movable toward and from said connecting members and the plane of said base, members carried by said side frames adapted to guide said supplementary frames, and a cover frame pivotally connected to swing toward and from the plane of said base.

10. A folding container comprising, in combination, a base frame, a pair of oppositely disposed side frames pivotally connected to said base and thereby movable toward and from the plane thereof, members connecting said side frames and pivot- Gopies of this patent may be obtained for ally connected thereto, supplementary side frames pivotally connected to said base and respectively movable toward and from said connecting members and the plane of said base, and struts for said side frames disposed to guide said supplementary frames in their movements toward and from said base frame.

11. A folding container comprising, in combination, a base frame, a pair of oppositely disposed side frames pivotally connected to said base and thereby movable toward and from the planethereof, members connecting said side frames and pivotally connected thereto, supplementary side frames pivotally connected to said base and respectively movable toward and from said connecting members and the plane of said base, a cover frame pivotally connected to swing toward and from the plane of said base and adapted to be disposed between said supplementary frames when the latter are in upright position, and members carried by said side frames adapted to guide said supplementary frames.

12. A folding container comprising, in combination, a base frame, a pair of oppositely disposed side frames pivotally connected to said base and thereby movable toward and from the plane thereof, members connecting said side frames and pivotally connected thereto, supplementary side frames pivotally connected to said base and respectively movable toward and from said connecting members and the plane of said base, a cover frame pivotally connected to swing toward and from the plane of said base and adapted to be disposed between said supplementary frames when the latter are in upright position, and struts for said side frames disposed to guide said supplementary frames in their movements toward and from said base frame.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

HENRY O. ELKINS.

Witnesses: FRED GSUTTON, FEED D. SMITH.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, 11.0, i 

